Winneshiek County Board agrees to take part in lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies over opiods

Winneshiek County will be joining other counties in Iowa and the Iowa State Association of Counties in suing the pharmaceutical companies manufacturing opioids.

Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to join the lawsuit.  In the event of a damage award or settlement, Winneshiek County will share in the settlement and could use those funds for prevention and services to individuals who have been impacted.

The amount of opioids per person in the United States nearly quadrupled from 1999 until 2013.  Since 2013, opioid prescriptions have fallen, but the total is still three times higher than 1999's rate.  Opiod abuse is a small problem in Winneshiek County--but a growing one (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2017/04/16301.html)